Electric lamp



.A. F. PIEPER ELECTRIC LAMP Dec. 3, 1940.

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A. F. PIEPER ELECTRIC LAMP Filed March 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @AOILSC E INVENTOR.

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Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LAMP Alphonse F. Pieper, Brighton, N. Y.

Application March 18 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric lamp, and has for its purpose to provide an efficient and practical construction for use as a desk or floor lamp, which utilizes an elongated type of light- 5 ing element such for instance as the conventional fluorescent tube which has been used for lighting purposes.

The advantages of a fluorescent tube over a filament bulb, both as to character of light and economy of operation, are recognized, and it is an objective of this invention to adapt elongated lighting elements to readingand floor lamps so as to obtain greater efliciency and light diffusion than has heretofore been possible.

In a more particular aspect, the invention has for its purpose to arrange a multiplicity of elongated light ng elements such as fluorescent tubes Within a shade or light shield so that instead of the light being directed in a straight line upwarclly and downwardly with relation to the shield, it is directed at an angle to the vertical both downwardly and upwardly, thereby spreading the light to a maximum extent laterally of the shield both above and below the same while protecting the eyesfrom the source of light when observedin a generally horizontal direction.

Another purpose of the invention is to enable the use of a multiplicity of elongated lighting elements arranged so as to afford a maximum concentration of light centrally between the sides of the light shield, while at the same time diverting the light rays laterally of and at an angle to the shield both above and below the same' in all directions, so that there is a wider diffusion of light than where the light elements are all in one plane or in parallel relationship.

A further object of the invention is to afford an arrangement that enables using a multiplicity of fluorescent tubes in compact relationship so that they may be employed on lamps of conventional size. and with shields no larger or diflerent from those that have been commonly used.

To these vand other ends, the invention conparts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a table lamp, the shield appearing in section, and illustrative of one practical embodiment of the invention showing the light elements in position;

sists in the construction and arrangement ofv 1940, Serial No. 324,535

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supporting frame with the light elements in position, and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing one of the light elements in side elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, the invention is shown in connection with a structure using a conventional type of fluorescent tube, although it may employ any elongated light element, and the supporting frame in which the tubes are mounted may be of any suitable form. In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting frame is in the general form of a truncated cone 15 mounted upon a central hollow post or standard I, and includes a circular tubular portion 2 at the top connected to the central post I by tubular lateral supports 3. The supporting frame also includes a circular tubular portion 4 at the bottom of greater diameter than the circular portion 2 at the top, and connected to the central post i by tubular lateral supports 5, while idesignate vertical braces connecting the 'top and bottom circular portions 2 and 4. l designates a light shield or shade which may be of any suitable construction and material, removably or otherwise supported on the supporting frame, and preferably in the form of a truncated cone conforming to the outline of the supporting frame, as shownclearly in Fig. l.

. Located within the light shield 1 between the top and bottom thereof and mounted on the supporting frame are the elongated light elements in the form of tubes 8,. 9 and it, three being shown in the illustrated embodiment, although the invention does not require using this particularnumber of tubes as long as the arrangement and relation of the light elements or tubes with respect to the light shield is maintained, as hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the several light elements are located symmetrically in vertical planes which intersect each other, and each element extends from the bottom circular portion 4 of the supporting frame, or from a point in proximity to the lower edge of the light shield I, upwardly and across the supporting frame and light shield, the upper end of the said light element being supported by the circular portion 2, and located in proximity to the upper edge of the light shield I at a point ap- I proximately opposite to its lower end.

Each of the light elementsas it extends upwardly crosses another of the light elements at 55 a point somewhat offset from the central post I so that the lower end of the several light elements or tubes are located in one horizontal plane, and the upper ends thereof in another 5 horizontal plane, the ends of the tubes being located at points lying-along or adjacent to the top and bottom edges of a truncated cone, or, in the present embodiment, of the supporting frame and the surrounding light shield. While the light elements are shown in a definite relationship, it will be understood that the angle of inclination of each light element to the horizontal as well as .the angular relation between the different tubes or between the vertical planes in which they are respectively located may be varied, and the present disclosure is intended only as illustrative of one embodiment of the invention.

The tubes, which are here shown as of the fluorescent type, are of conventional form and each is supported between sockets that are mounted on brackets III welded or otherwise fixedly attached to the circular portions 2 and 3 of the supporting frame. The conductors leading to the sockets at the upper ends of the light elements or tubes extend to and through the tubular lateral supports 3 to the central post I, while the conductors leading to the sockets at the lower ends of the light elements extend to and through the tubular lateral supports 5 to the central post I, through which the various conductors extend downwardly to the base II which is provided with a conventional switch l2, and contains the reactors i3 that are of conventional form, as well known in the art. By arranging the light elements or tubes in the manner shown, there "is a concentration of light at the center of the supporting frame and shield, as will be observed from Fig. 2, and each tube, by reason of its vertically inclined position, directs light generally laterally of the light shield been above and below the same, at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tube, so that there ins/wide diffusion of light over a relatively large area instead of its being directed more or, less 5 in a straight line upwardly and downwardly, as in the conventional type of lamp. 'Owing to the fact that the ends of the tubes are in proximity to the light shield and therefore away from the area of concentrated light, the ends which are 50 darker than the body or central portion of the tube do not detract from the efliciency of the light, the central area within the light shield and supporting frame being occupied only by the portions of the light elements-or tubes between 5 the ends and from which the maximum amount of light is emitted.

While the invention has been described with relation to the construction specifically shown herein, it is not confined to the exact arrangeo0 ment set forth, and this application is intended Iclaim: 1. An electric lamp including a supporting frame having the general form of a truncated cone including top and bottom annular portions connected by vertical braces, and a multiplicity 5 of elongated light elements supported by said frame and located in intersecting vertical planes, each of said light elements extending from the bottom annular portion upwardly and across the supporting frame to the opposite side of the 10 top annular portion, and a shade separate from and removably positionable on said supporting frame.

2. An electric lamp including a supporting frame having the general form of a truncated l5 cone and including top and bottom annular portions connected by vertical braces, a shade separate from andremovably positionable on said I supporting frame, a vertical central hollow post, tubular horizontal supports connecting said cen- 20 tral post with said annular portions, a multiplicity of'elongated light elements supported by said frame in intersecting vertical planes, each of said light elements extending from said bottom annular portion upwardly and across theframe to the 25 opposite side of the top annular portion, and conductors extending through said central post and lateral supports to the light elements.

3. An electric lamp including a supporting frame comprising top and bottom annular por- 30 tions connected by vertical braces, a shade separate from and removably positionable on said supporting frame, a central vertical post, hori-- zontal supports connecting said post and said annular portions, a multiplicity of elongated light 85 elements supported by said frame in intersecting vertical planes, each of said light elements extending from the bottom annular portion upwardly and across the supporting frame to the opposite side of the top annular portion, and 40 sockets carried by raid top and bottom annular portions respectiveiy for receiving each of said light elements.

4. An electric lamp including a supporting frame comprising a bottom annular portion and a top annular portion of less diameter than the bottom annular portion, a shade separate from and removably positionable on said supporting frame, 'vertical braces connecting said annular portions, a central vertical post, horizontal supports connecting said post to said annular portions, a multiplicity of elongated light elements located in intersecting vertical planes, each of said light elements extending from the bottom annular portion upwardly and across the supporting frame to the opposite side of the top annular portion and to one side of said vertical post, and sockets carried by said annular portions respectively'for receiving each of said light elements. j co ALPHONSE F. PIEPER. 

